Love One Another (Week 8)

Hey everyone! If we didn’t have the chance to chat, my name is Zach Honnen super excited to be going through our study tonight.

In the past few weeks and months, we’ve been going through first John and I’ve really been enjoying this so far and I think it’s been very beneficial

And before we jump into everything, I wanted to ask you a question

How many of you have played sports or an instrument or have spent long hours practicing something or another?

What are some of the things that you guys have practiced over the years???

How many view did it come naturally to practice those things and do well

And how many of you really had to work hard to become natural at something?

Tonight we’re looking at what we practice. We are turning the interrogation light onto ourselves and asking ourselves what we practice.

What we do and why we do it and how we do it

Let’s go ahead and read our text:

1 John 3:4–10 ESV

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Let’s pray:

So right off the rip what sticks out to you guys what are some things that you notice or realize about the text today?

What stands out? What do you think the apostle John is communicating?

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

What do you think this passage is talking about??

When we look at this, we see a distinction and an emphasis on the person who practices sin

What do you think it means to practice sin?

Do you think there’s a distinction between singing and practicing sin?

If so, what is the distinction?

1 John 1:8–10 ESV

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Do you think first John eight through 10 should inform what we think about this passage?

How does it help us interpret this?

There is a difference between walking in sin and struggling with sin…

1 John 1:6–7 ESV

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

There is a reality that we will struggle with sin, but it is a struggle

Christians do not enjoy sin in the long-term

There is times where sin is enjoyable for a season, but once you add the other side of that, you have regret, shame, and pain

For us to walk in sin without shame without pain without the desire for repentance is to be a practicer of sin

You see there’s a difference between those of us struggle with Lust, and those of us who fully indulge in lust

There is a difference between struggling with lying and being fully committed and practicing Practicing lying

5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.

10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.